[en] Experimental measurements of the equilibrium in the S-1 Spheromak by use of magnetic probes inside the plasma show that the final magnetic equilibrium is one which has relaxed close to the Taylor (minimum-energy) state, even though the plasma is far from that state during formation. The comparison is made by calculating the two-dimensional μ profile of the plasma from the probe data, where μ is defined as μ₀j/sub parallel//B. Measurements using a triple Langmuir probe provide evidence to support the conclusion that the pressure gradients in the relaxed state are confined to the edge region of the plasma